Steering Hydraulic Deivce for Marine Motors

Abstract

The invention relates to an hydraulic device for the synchronized steering of at least a pair of marine outboard motors (7, 8), comprising an hydraulic cylinder (6) steering a main motor (7) sliding along a rod (10) parallel to the axis of the tube (9) tilting said motor (7), it is connected to an arm (13) steering said motor (7) by means of an articulated linkage (12), it is rotatable about at least an axis, and by means of articulated linkage (24, 29, 35) it is connected to an arm (17) steering a secondary motor (8). According to the invention, the device comprises a slide guide (14, 14′) stationary associated to the secondary motor (8) which is parallel to the axis of the tube (15) tilting it, and an axial steering slider (16, 16′) that can slide on said guide (14, 14°) and by means of articulated linkage (29, 36) it is connected to the pivotable end of the arm (17) steering the secondary motor (8), and it is slidably driven by means of at least a bar (24, 35) articulately connected with an end to the steering slider (16, 16′) and with the other end connected to the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7).

Description

The present invention relates to a steering hydraulic device for marine motors, particularly for a main outboard motor and at least a parallel secondary outboard motor, comprising a double-acting hydraulic cylinder for steering the main motor, which cylinder can slide along a rod whose axis is parallel to the axis of a tube tilting the main motor and it is substantially tangent or parallel to a tangential to the circle described by an arm steering the main motor, which steering arm is connected to said steering cylinder, particularly to a first end of said steering cylinder, by means of an articulated linkage for compensating the distance changes of the steering cylinder from the pivotable end of said arm steering the main motor during steering steps, and which steering cylinder can rotate at least about an axis, preferably about several axes parallel one with respect to the other and parallel to the axis of the tube tilting the main motor, such to allow tilting-up and tilting-down of the main motor, and which cylinder steering the main motor is connected to an arm steering the secondary motor by means of linkage articulated at least according to two axes.

Steering hydraulic devices for marine vessels provided with outboard motors are well known and widely used. Generally they have a steering wheel placed at a certain distance from motors. Said steering wheel drives an hydraulic pump hydraulically connected by means of hydraulic hoses to the cylinder steering the main motor. The secondary motor is generally a passive one, that is its steering is controlled by the cylinder steering the main motor. This is due to the fact that by providing each motor with an active steering cylinder, it would be very difficult to synchronize the sliding and to guarantee the same steering angle of two motors, as well as to the fact that the device would be very expensive. The connection between the cylinder steering the main motor and the steering arm for the secondary motor is generally provided by an articulated linkage that generally is quite complex, as regards construction, since they have to be made in such a way to allow the independent tilting of the two motors. Moreover, with the distance change between steering axes of two motors, it is necessary to replace one or more connecting levers in order to adapt the device to the new situation. Moreover it is quite complex to guarantee the same steering angle between the two motors. Known steering devices generally need a lot of space, above all with one or both motors being tilted, and they can interfere with other components of the marine vessel. Moreover, when a single motor is tilted, it is inclined to converge towards the other one, and this transmits potentially damaged stresses upon various mechanisms.

Therefore the present invention aims to overcome the above drawbacks, and by means of simple and inexpensive means to allow the manufacturing of a device of the type described hereinbefore allowing to have a steering thrust force uniformly distributed on all motors, guaranteeing the maintenance of the same steering angle among various motors, not interfering with other components of the steering system and/or with motor hoods, having the possibility to tilt independently each motor and having the possibility to manoeuvre even if one or more motors are tilted, being extremely adaptable to different situations, above all referring to distance change between the two motors as regards different marine vessels.

The invention attains the above aims by means of a device of the type disclosed hereinbefore comprising a slide guide stationary associated to the secondary motor and it is parallel to the axis of the tube tilting the secondary motor, and a steering axial slider that can slide on said guide and it is connected to the pivotable end of the arm steering the secondary motor by means of articulated linkage working at least according to an axis perpendicular to the axis of the slide guide. Said steering slider can be slidable driven at least by means of a bar articulately connected at least according to an axis with one end to said steering slider and with the other end connected to the second end of the cylinder steering the main motor.

Said steering slider can be further rotatable about its own sliding axis, such to allow independent tilting-up and tilting-down of the secondary motor.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention that will be disclosed with more detail in drawings, the slide guide of the steering slider for the secondary motor may be retained by means of a nut and fastened on the threaded end of the tube. Arms with opposite ends thereof can be pivotably mounted about the axis of the tube tilting he secondary motor or about an axis parallel to said axis of said tube.

In this case, the steering slider, the slide guide, means fastening said guide and means connecting said steering slider to the arm steering the secondary motor may be substantially a not active copy and having the same degrees of movement freedom of the cylinder steering the main motor, of the rod upon which said cylinder slides, of means fastening said rod and of means connecting said cylinder to the arm steering the main motor.

Advantageously, articulated linkages for connecting the cylinder steering the main motor to the steering slider for the secondary motor may be made in such a way to allow the independent tilting of the two motors.

Particularly, the bar connecting the steering slider for the secondary motor to the cylinder steering the main motor may have, at each opposite ends, a ball joint coupling to the slider steering the secondary motor and to the cylinder steering the main motor respectively.

Referring to another preferred embodiment that will be disclosed in more details in drawing disclosure, the axis of the slide guide of the slider steering the secondary motor may coincides with the axis of the tube tilting the secondary motor.

Said slide guide of the slider steering the secondary motor may be an axial extension of the spindle about which the tube tilting the secondary motor rotates.

Particularly, the axis of the slide guide of the slider steering the secondary motor may be an intermediate extension of axes of the tube tilting the main motor and of the tube tilting the secondary motor, approximately co-axial or co-axial one with respect to the other.

The steering slider for the secondary motor may be composed of two separate members, which two members are slidably integral one with respect to the other along the slide guide, a first member being rotatable independently from a second member about the axis of the slide guide.

The first member may be composed of an arm radially extending outwards with respect to the slide guide and to the free end thereof a bar for coupling the cylinder steering the main motor is connected.

Said bar for coupling the cylinder steering the main motor to the first radial arm may be lengthwise adjustable within predetermined stops, such that the device can be adapted to different distances between the two motors.

Said coupling bar may have two end portions for coupling to the cylinder steering the main motor and the first radial arm respectively.

According to an improvement, means for adjusting the distance of one or both the coupling end portions of the coupling bar from, respectively, the end of the first radial arm and from the fastening point to the cylinder steering the main motor according to a transverse axis, particularly perpendicular, to the axis of said coupling bar. This arrangement allows to compensate transverse offsets of the axis of the cylinder steering the main motor with respect to the axis of the slide guide associated to the secondary motor.

Said two end portions of the coupling bar may be coupled to the cylinder steering the main motor and to the first radial arm in such a way that at least one or both said two end portions are slidable, within predetermined stops, along axes parallel to the arm steering the main motor, the latter being in a not steering condition.

The end portion coupling the coupling bar to the end of the first radial arm may be coupled thereto by a coupling pin oriented according to a coupling axis perpendicular to the steering axis of the main motor and perpendicular to the axis of the slide guide and/or of the coupling bar. Said end portion may be slidable for a predetermined range along said coupling axis, and it may be eventually rotatable about said coupling axis.

The end portion of the coupling bar may freely slidable engage on the pin coupling to the first radial arm. Said pin may have, at the free end thereof, an enlargement for stopping the sliding.

Said enlargement may be composed of a pin head engaging by screwing with a threaded end inside a threaded bore of the first radial arm and between said threaded end and said head having an intermediate portion that is smooth and/or with a low coefficient of friction.

Particularly, said intermediate portion may be housed in a bush made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, particularly made of teflon or the like.

On the other hand, the end portion coupling the coupling bar to the cylinder steering the main motor may be freely slidable engaged on a coupling pin with a low coefficient of friction and having enlargements at the two opposite ends thereof for stopping the sliding.

Said coupling pin may be supported at the ends of two branches of a forked connection plate, which plate is integral with the cylinder steering the main motor. Sliding stops for the coupling end portion of the coupling bar may be composed of said two branches of the fork.

The second member of the steering slider may be composed of an arm radially extending outwards with respect to the slide guide and to the free end thereof a lever coupling to the arm steering the secondary motor is connected.

Advantageously, said lever may be lengthwise adjustable within predetermined extreme positions and may be further locked in the set adjusting position.

Said coupling lever may have a first threaded end that can be axially screwed/unscrewed inside a corresponding threaded bore of an end portion fastening the arm steering the secondary motor. Means for locking the screwing position may be further provided, such as a lock nut or the like, such to avoid changes in steering geometries due for example to deep vibrations or the like.

The second end of the coupling lever associated to the second radial arm of the steering slider may be advantageously adjustable with respect to the distance of said end and/or said lever from the slide guide, such to compensate transverse offsets between the slide guide and said coupling lever.

Said coupling lever may have an L-shaped end coupling to the second radial arm, while the end angled branch of said second end may have a thread cooperating with a threaded bush housed inside a corresponding bore provided at the free end of the second radial arm. Said bore may be oriented perpendicularly to the axis of said second radial arm, while said threaded bush may be axially locked inside said bore but can freely rotate such to be screwed and unscrewed on said threaded angled end so to adjust the distance between the coupling lever and the slide guide.

The steering sliding slider may further comprise a tubular slide provided with an end annular flange, a first cylindrical portion having an axial length that substantially corresponds to the thickness of a complementary bore of the second radial arm the same engaging by rotation thereto on said first smooth portion of the slide, and a second threaded portion upon which by screwing the first radial arm is engaged with a threaded bore. Thus, said first radial arm locks the second radial arm in the axial direction of the slide and so of the slide guide, while the second radial arm is free to rotate about the tubular slide. Due to this arrangement, it is possible to separately tilt the two motors.

The tubular slide may be axially slidable mounted on the slide guide and it may be freely rotatable thereon, while the second radial arm may be freely rotatable on the slide and with respect to the first radial arm, but it may be axially slidable together with the slide and the first radial arm.

According to an improvement, between the tubular slide and the slide guide and/or between the second radial arm and the tubular slide and/or between the first radial arm and the second radial arm and/or between the threaded bush fastening the angled end portion of the coupling lever and the bore housing said bush inside the second radial arm there may be provided slide means having a low coefficient of friction, such as bushs or rings with end flanges made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, particularly made of teflon or the like, interposing between surfaces of said portions movable, rotatable or slidable one with respect to the other.

Advantages of the present invention are clear from what said above and allow to make a steering hydraulic device for marine outboard motors of the type disclosed hereinbefore allowing to have a steering thrust force uniformly distributed on all motors, guaranteeing the maintenance of the same steering angle among various motors, not interfering with other components of the steering system and/or with motor hoods due to moderate overall dimensions, having the possibility to tilt independently each motor and keeping the manoeuvring possibility even if one or more motors are tilted, being extremely adaptable to different situations, above all referring to the distance change between the two motors as regards different marine vessels. Moreover the overall dimensions is reduced inside the marine vessel, above all when one or both motors are tilted, and the convergency angle of a tilted motor with respect to the other motor is reduced. The device may be applied also to motors arranged at different heights one with respect to the other. The device may be made also as a kit for simple connecting motors, one of them already provided with its own steering cylinder, and even for motors provided each with its own active steering cylinder, such to synchronize the operation. All that by means of very simple and inexpensive arrangements.

Further features and improvements are object of subclaims.

Features of the invention and advantages derived therefrom will be more apparent from the following detailed description of the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a general marine vessel provided with a pair of outboard motors in combination with a first embodiment of the steering device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view only of the steering device of FIG. 1 with motors in the not steered and not tilted condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view only of the steering device of FIG. 1 steered to the right, referring to the moving direction of the marine vessel, and not tilted condition of motors.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view only of the steering device of FIG. 1 with motors in the not steered condition and with the main motor being tilted.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view only of the steering device of FIG. 1 with motors in the not steered condition and with the secondary motor being tilted.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view only of the steering device of FIG. 1 with both motors in not steered and tilted condition.

FIG. 7 is a detail of FIG. 2, regarding the sliding slider steering the secondary motor.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the sliding slider steering the secondary motor, the second radial arm being omitted.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the first radial arm of the slider steering the secondary motor.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the steering device according to the present invention with motors in not steered and not tilted condition.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a conventional boat 1 that will be briefly described in the following. The boat 1 comprises a stem 101 and a stern 201. A steering wheel 2 is provided connected to an hydraulic pump 3. The pump 3 is hydraulically connected to the steering hydraulic device by means of two hydraulic hoses 4, 5. The steering device comprises a cylinder 6 steering the the main motor 7 of the double-acting type sliding on a rod 10. The hydraulic hose 4 is connected to an end of the steering cylinder 6 while the other hydraulic hose 5 is connected to the opposite end, so as to alternatively generate a pressure inside one of the two chambers of the cylinder 6. A second outboard motor 8 (secondary motor) is mounted on the stern 201 near the main motor 7. The main motor 7 has an tilt tube 9 that generally is coupled to the top of the sterndrive of the motor 7 and a spindle passing through the tilt tube 9 and allowing the main motor 7 to be tilted about the axis of the tilt tube 9 from the propelling position shown in FIG. 1 to a position tilted inside the marine vessel 1. A pair of supporting arms 11 are mounted at the opposite ends of the spindle passing through the tilt tube 9. Each arm 11 is made substantially with a zed shape and has an opening intended to receive a spindle end. Each arm 11 further has a second opening intended to receive an end of the rod 10 of the cylinder 6 steering the main motor 7. The rod 10 is mounted inside the cylinder 6 so that it can slide to and fro along the rod 10. Therefore the rod 10 is axially stationary with respect to the marine vessel 1 while the cylinder 6 moves trasversally with respect to the main axis of the marine vessel 1. Supporting arms 11 allow a curved movement of the rod 10 and cylinder 6 about the axis of the tilt tube 9, keeping the axis of rod 10 and of cylinder 6 parallel to the axis of the tilt tube 9. The steering cylinder 6 at one end is connected to a steering arm 13 by means of an articulated lever 12 that is fastened to the main motor 7. Articulated linkage formed of the lever 12 and the arm 13 allows to compensate the distance changes of the steering cylinder 6 from the pivotable end of the steering arm 13 during steering steps. The device further comprises a slide guide 14 stationary associated to the secondary motor 8, as an axial extension in the main motor direction of the spindle about which the tube 15 tilting the secondary motor 8 rotates. It is further provided an axial slider 16 steering the secondary motor 8 slidable driven on the guide 14 by the cylinder 6 steering the main motor, and it is connected to the steering arm 17 for the secondary motor 8. The steering slider 16 comprises a tubular slide 18 with an annular flange 118 provided at the end of the slide 18 faced towards the secondary motor 8. Starting from said flange 118, the tubular slide 18 comprises a first cylindrical smooth portion 218 having an axial length substantially corresponding to the thickness of a complementary bore 119 of a radial arm 19 with which it engages by rotation on said first smooth portion 218 of the tubular slide 18, and which will be disclosed in more detail hereinafter. The tubular slide 6 comprises a further threaded portion 318 ending at the end of the slide 6 faced towards the main motor 7 upon which a further radial arm 20 is engaged by screwing, which will be disclosed in more detail hereinafter, by means of a threaded bore 120. Thus, the radial arm 20 locks the radial arm 19 in the axial direction of the tubular slide 18 and so of the slide guide 14, while the radial arm 19 can freely rotate about the tubular slide 18. The tubular slide 18 can also freely rotate about the axis of the guide 14 upon which it slides. Between the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular slide 18 and the external cylindrical surface of the slide guide 14 there is provided a pair of bushs 21 made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, for example teflon or the like, which bushs 21 are axially hold in position inside the tubular slide 18 by means of a pair of scraper seals 22 elastically snap engaging each one inside a corresponding annular groove 23 provided at the inner part of each opposite head end of the tubular slide 18. The radial arm 20, to which reference has been made hereinbefore, is composed of a member radially extending outwards with respect to the tubular slide 18 and to the free end thereof a bar 24 for coupling to the cylinder 6 steering the main motor 7 is connected. Said coupling bar 24 may be made such to be lengthwise adjustable within predetermined stops, so that the steering device can be adapted to different situations, particularly to different distances between the two motors 7, 8. Alternatively, it is possible to replace it with one of different length. Said coupling bar 24 has two end portions 124, 124′ for coupling to the device 6 steering the main motor 7 and to the radial arm 20 respectively. The end portion 124 has a bore oriented parallely to the arm 13 steering the main motor 7, in a not steering condition thereof, freely slidably engaging on a pin 25 with a low coefficient of friction supported at the two ends of two branches of a forked connection plate 26. Said plate 26 is integral with an end of the cylinder 6 steering the main motor 7. The other end portion 124′ of the coupling bar 24 has also an bore oriented parallely to the arm 13 steering the main motor 7, in a not steering condition thereof, intended to receive a coupling pin 27 oriented according to a coupling axis perpendicular to the steering axis of the main motor 7 and perpendicular to the axis of the slide guide 14 and to the axis of the coupling bar 24. Said pin 27 has an enlarged head 127, an intermediate smooth portion with a low coefficient of friction and a threaded end in order to screw it inside a bore 220 provided at the end of the radial arm 20. The axial extension of the intermediate smooth portion is greater than the thickness of the end portion 124′, so that said end portion 124′ may slide on the pin 27 within two opposite sliding stops on one side formed of the end of the radial arm 20 and on the other side formed of the enlarged head 127 of the pin 27. At the intermediate smooth portion of the pin 27 and outside thereof, there is provided a tubular bush 28 made of teflon or the like aiming at reducing the sliding friction of the end portion 124′. The degrees of freedom given in this manner to the coupling bar 24 allow to compensate the transverse offset of the axis of the cylinder 6 steering the main motor 7 with respect to the axis of the slide guide 14 associated to the secondary motor 8. Concerning this, it is to be noted that the slide guide 14 has a length at least equal to the extension of the range made by the steering cylinder 6 between the two opposite stop positions. The other radial arm 19 is in turn composed of a member radially extending outwards with respect to the tubular slide 18 and the slide guide 14 and to the free end thereof there is connected a lever 29 for coupling to the arm 17 steering the secondary motor 8. Said coupling lever 29 has a first threaded end 129 that can be axially screwed/unscrewed inside a corresponding threaded bore of an end portion 30 fastening to the arm 17 steering the secondary motor 8, so that said coupling lever 29 may be lengthwise adjustable so that the device can be adapted to particular geometries of individual situations. On the opposite side said coupling lever 29 has a L-shape bent end coupling to the radial arm 19. The angled end branch of said second end has a thread 229 cooperating with a threaded bush 31 housed inside a corresponding bore 219 provided at the free end of the radial arm 19. Said bore 219 is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of the radial arm 19. The threaded bush 31 is axially locked inside the bore 219 by means of an elastic ring 32 elastically snap engaging inside an annular groove 131 provided at the end of the threaded bush 31 projecting from the bore 219. On the opposite side the threaded bush 31 has an enlarged head 231 having a not round shape and such to be driven by rotation, for example by means of a monkey spanner, so that it can be screwed and unscrewed on the thread 229 of the angled end of the coupling lever 29 in order to adjust the distance between the coupling lever 29 and the slide guide 14 and to compensate the heightwise offset between the arm 17 steering the secondary motor 8 and said slide guide 14. Between the external surface of the threaded bush 31 and the inner surface of the bore 219 there is provided a tubular bush 33 made of teflon or the like, provided with an end annular flange 133, providing to reduce the friction between the surface of bore 219 and the bush 31 and between the head 231 of the bush 31 and the surface abutting with the area around the bore 219 of the radial arm 19 during the rotation of the bush 31. Even between the external surface of the smooth cylindrical portion 218 of the tubular slide 18 and the inner surface of bore 119 of the radial arm 19 there is provided a pair of tubular bushs 34 each one provided with an annular end flange aiming at reducing the rotation friction between the radial arm 19 and the tubular slide 18 and the two arms 19, 20 one with respect to the other.

In addition to the above disclosure, the present invention may be advantageously applied also in combination with more than two motors. For example, there may be provided a main motor provided with its own steering cylinder interposed between two secondary motors, each one may be driven by a system as the one above disclosed. Each system may be connected to one of the two opposite ends of the cylinder steering the main motor.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein mechanisms for controlling the steering of the secondary motor 8 are substantially a not active copy and having the same degrees of movement freedom of the cylinder 6 steering the main motor 7, of the rod 10 upon which said cylinder 6 slides, of means 11 for fastening said rod 10 and means 12 connecting said cylinder 6 to the arm 13 steering the main motor 7. In this case, the slide guide 14′ is substantially a copy of the rod 10, and like it, it is hold by means of a pair of arms 11, an end of each one of them is connected to one of the opposite ends of the guide 14′. Said arms 11 with their opposite ends are pivotable mounted about the axis of the tube 15 tilting the secondary motor 8. On the guide 14′ there is axially slidable mounted and rotatable about thereof the steering slider 16′ that at least partially is a not active copy of the cylinder 6 steering the main motor 7. The cylinder 6 steering the main motor 7 and the steering slider 16′ for the secondary motor 8 are connected one with respect to the other by means of a driving lever 35 that can be of the lengthwise adjustable type such that the system may be adapted to different situations, referring to the distance between the two motors 7, 8. At each opposite end, the driving lever 35 has a ball joint 135, 135′ for connecting the slider 16 and the cylinder respectively. Due to ball joints 135, 135′ it is possible to independently tilt the two motors 7, 8. Similarly to the cylinder 6 steering the main motor 7, also the slider 16′ is connected to the arm 17 steering the secondary motor 8 by means of an articulated lever 36 allowing to compensate the distance changes of the slider 16′ from the pivotable end of the steering arm 17 during steering steps.

Of course the invention is not limited to the above disclosed and shown two embodiments, but it can be widely varied, above all as regards construction, without departing from the guiding principle disclosed above and claimed below.

Claims

1. Steering hydraulic device for marine motors (7, 8) particularly for a main outboard motor (7) and for at least a parallel secondary outboard motor (8), comprising a double-acting hydraulic cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7), which cylinder (6) can slide along a rod (10) whose axis is parallel to the axis of a tube (9) tilting the main motor (7) and it is substantially tangential or parallel to a tangent to the circle described by an arm (13) steering the main motor (7), which steering arm (13) is connected to said steering cylinder (6), particularly to a first end of said steering cylinder (6), by means of articulated linkage (12) for compensating the distance changes of the steering cylinder (6) from the pivotable end of said arm (13) steering the main motor (7) during steering steps, and which steering cylinder (6) can rotate at least about an axis, preferably about several axis parallel one with respect to the other and parallel to the axis of the tube (9) tilting the main motor (7), such to allow tilting-up and tilting-down of the main motor (7), and which cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) is connected to an arm (17) steering the secondary motor (8) by means of linkage (24, 29, 25) articulated at least according to two axes, characterized in that the device comprises a slide guide (14, 14′) stationary associated to the secondary motor (8) and it is parallel to the axis of the tube (15) tilting the secondary motor (8), and an axial steering slider (16, 16′) sliding on said guide (14, 14′) and it is connected by means of articulated linkage (29, 36), working at least according to an axis perpendicular to the axis of the slide guide (14, 14′), to the pivotable end of the arm (17) steering the secondary motor (8), and which steering slider (16, 16′) is slidably driven at least by means of a bar (24, 35) articulately connected at least according to an axis to an end of said steering slider (16, 16′) and with the other end connected to the second end of the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said steering slider (16, 16′) may be further rotated about its own sliding axis, such to allow the independent tilting-up and tilting-down of the secondary motor (8).

3. Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the slide guide (14′) of the slider (16′) steering the secondary motor (8) is retained by a pair of arms (11), one end of each one of them is connected to one of the opposite ends of the guide (14′), while said arms (11) with the opposite ends thereof are pivotably mounted about the axis of the tube (15) tilting the secondary motor (8) or about an axis parallel to said axis of said tube (15).

4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steering slider (16′), the slide guide (14′), means (11) fastening said guide (14′) and means (36) connecting said steering slider (16′) to the arm (17) steering the secondary motor (8) are substantially a not active copy and having the same degreees of movement freedom of the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7), of the rod (10) upon which said cylinder (6) slides, of means (11) fastening said rod (10) and of means (12) connecting said cylinder (6) to the arm (13) steering the main motor (7).

5. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that articulated linkages (35) connecting the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) to the slider (16′) steering the secondary motor (8) are made such to allow the independent tilting of the two motors (7, 8).

6. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bar (35) connecting the slider (16′) steering the secondary motor (8) to the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) at each opposite ends has a ball joint (135, 135′) coupling to the slider (16′) steering the secondary motor (8) and to the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) respectively.

7. Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the axis of the slide guide (14) of the slider (16) steering the secondary motor (8) coincides with the axis of the tube (15) tilting the secondary motor (8).

8. Device according to one or more of claims 1, 2 and 7, characterized in that the slide guide (14) of the slider (16) steering the secondary motor (8) is the axial extension of the spindle about which the tube (15) tilting the secondary motor (8) rotates.

9. Device according to one or more of claims 1, 2, 7 and 8, characterized in that the axis of the slide guide (14) of the slider (16) steering the secondary motor (8) is an intermediate extension of axes of the tube (9) tilting the main motor (7) and of the tube (15) tilting the secondary motor (8) approximately coaxial or coaxial one with respect to the other.

10. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1, 2, 7 to 9 characterized in that the slider (16) steering the secondary motor (8) is composed of two separate members (19, 20), which two members (19, 20) are slidably integral one with respect to the other along the slide guide (14), a first member (20) being rotatable independently of a second member (19) about the axis of the slide guide (14).

11. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1, 2, 7 to 10, characterized in that the first member is composed of an arm (20) radially extending outwards with respect to the slide guide (14) and to the free end thereof a bar (24) for coupling to the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) is connected.

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said bar (24) coupling the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) to the first radial arm (20) is lengthwise adjustable within predetermined stops.

13. Device according to claims 11 or 12, characterized in that said coupling bar (24) has two end portions (124, 124′) coupling to the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) and to the first radial arm (20) respectively.

14. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1, 2, 7 to 13 characterized in that it has means for adjusting the distance of one or both the end portions (124, 124′) coupling the coupling bar (24) to the end of the first radial arm (20) and from the fastening point to the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) according to an axis transverse, particularly perpendicular, to the axis of said coupling bar (24), in order to compensate transverse offsets of the axis of the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) with respect to the axis of the slide guide (14) associated to the secondary motor (8).

15. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1, 2, 7 to 14, characterized in that said two end portions (124, 124′) of the coupling bar (24) are coupled to the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) and to the first radial arm (20) in such a way that at least one or both said two end portions (124, 124′) are slidable, within predetermined stops, along axes parallel to the arm (13) steering the main motor (7), in a not steering condition thereof.

16. Device according to claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the end portion (124′) coupling the coupling bar (24) to the end of the first radial arm (20) is coupled thereto by a coupling pin (27) oriented according to a coupling axis perpendicular to the steering axis of the main motor (7) and perpendicular to the axis of the slide guide (14) and/or of the coupling bar (24), said end portion (124′) being movable for a predetermined range along said coupling axis, and being eventually rotatable about said coupling axis.

17. Device according to one or more of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the end portion (124′) of the coupling bar (24) freely slidable engages on the pin (27) coupling to the first radial arm (20), which pin (27) has, at the free end thereof, an enlargement (127) for stopping the sliding.

18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that said stop enlargement at the free end of the pin (27) coupling to the first radial arm (20) is composed of an head (127) of a pin (27) engaging by screwing with a threaded end inside a threaded bore (220) of the first radial arm (20) and between said threaded end and said head (127) having an intermediate portion that is smooth and/or with a low coefficient of friction.

19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the intermediate portion between the enlarged head (127) of the pin (27) and the threaded end is housed in a bush (28) made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, particularly made of teflon or the like.

20. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1, 2, 7 to 19, characterized in that the end portion (124) coupling the coupling bar (24) to the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) is freely slidable engaged on a coupling pin (25) with a low coefficient of friction and having enlargements at the two opposite ends thereof for stopping the sliding.

21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that said coupling pin (25) is supported by the two ends of two branches of a forked connection plate (26), which plate (26) is integral with the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7), sliding stops for the coupling end portion (124) of the coupling bar (24) being composed of said two branches of the forked plate (26).

22. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1, 2, 7 to 21, characterized in that the second member of the steering slider is composed of an arm (19) radially extending outwards with respect to the slide guide (14) and to the free end thereof a lever coupling to the arm (17) steering the secondary motor (8) is connected.

23. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that said lever (29) coupling to the arm (17) steering the secondary motor (8) is lengthwise adjustable within predetermined extreme positions, being further lockable in the set adjusting position.

24. Device according to claim 23, characterized in that said coupling lever (29) has a first threaded end (129) that can be axially screwed/unscrewed inside a corresponding threaded bore of a end portion (30) fastening the arm (17) steering the secondary motor (8), means for locking the screwing position being provided, such as a lock nut or the like.

25. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the second end of the coupling lever (29) associated to the second radial arm (19) of the steering slider (16) is adjustable with respect to the distance of said end and/or said lever (29) from the slide guide (14).

26. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the coupling lever (29) has an L-shaped end coupling to the second radial arm (19), while the end angled branch of said second end may have a thread (229) cooperating with a threaded bush (31) housed inside a corresponding bore (219) provided at the free end of the second radial arm (19), said bore (219) being oriented perpendicularly to the axis of said second radial arm (19), and said threaded bush (31) being axially locked inside the bore (219) but it can freely rotate such to be screwed and unscrewed on said threaded angled end (229) so to adjust the distance between the coupling lever (29) and the slide guide (14).

27. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1, 2, 7 to 26, characterized in that the steering sliding slider (16) comprises a tubular slide (18) provided with an end annular flange (118), a first cylindrical portion (218) having an axial length that substantially corresponds to the thickness of a complementary bore (119) of the second radial arm (19) the same engaging by rotation thereto on said first smooth portion (218) of the slide (18), and a second threaded portion (318) upon which by screwing the first radial arm (20) is engaged with a threaded bore (120), which first radial arm (20) locks the second radial arm (19) in the axial direction of the slide (18) and so of the slide guide (14), while said second radial arm (19) is free to rotate about the tubular slide (18).

28. Device according to claim 27, characterized in that the tubular slide (18) is axially slidable mounted on the slide guide (14) and it may be freely rotatable thereon, while the second radial arm (19) is freely rotatable on the slide (18) and with respect to the first radial arm (20), but may be axially slidable together with the slide (18) and the first radial arm (20).

29. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1, 2, 7 to 28, characterized in that between the tubular slide (18) and the slide guide (14) and/or between the second radial arm (19) and the tubular slide (18) and/or between the first radial arm (20) and the second radial arm (19) and/or between the threaded bush (31) fastening the angled end portion of the coupling lever (29) and the bore (219) housing said bush (31) inside the second radial arm (19) there are provided slide means having a low coefficient of friction, such as bushes or rings or bushes (33, 34, 21) with end flanges (133) made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, particularly made of teflon or the like, interposing between surfaces of said portions movable, rotatable or slidable one with respect to the other.

30. Kit for connecting marine motors (7, 8) for controlling thereof in a synchronizing way, particularly for an outboard main motor (7) and at least a parallel outboard secondary motor (8), wherein a double-acting hydraulic cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) is provided, which cylinder (6) is slidable along a rod (10) whose axis is parallel to the axis of a tube (9) tilting the main motor (7) and it is substantially tangential or parallel to a tangent to the circle described by an arm (13) steering the main motor (7), which steering arm (13) is connected to said steering cylinder (6), particularly to a first end of said steering cylinder (6) by means of articulated linkage (12) for compensating distance changes of the steering cylinder (6) from the pivotable end of said arm (13) steering the main motor (7) during steering steps, and which steering cylinder (6) is rotatable about at least an axis, preferably about several axes parallel one with respect to the other and parallel to the axis of the tube (9) tilting the main motor (7), so to allow the tilting-up and tilting-down of the main motor (7), and which cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7) is connected by means of linkage (24, 29, 35) articulated according at least two axes to an arm (17) steering the secondary motor (8), characterized in that the kit comprises a slide guide (14, 14′) stationary associated to the secondary motor (8) and it is parallel to the axis of the tube (15) tilting the secondary motor (8), and a steering axial slider (16, 16′) sliding on said guide (14, 14′) and it is connected to the pivotable end of the arm (17) steering the secondary motor (8) by means of articulated linkage (29, 36), working at least according to an axis perpendicular to the axis of the slide guide (14, 14′), and which steering slider (16, 16′) is slidably driven by means of at least a bar (24, 35) articulately connected according to at least an axis with an end to said steering slider (16, 16′) and with the other end to the second end of the cylinder (6) steering the main motor (7).

31. Connecting kit according to claim 30, characterized in that it is manufactured according to one or more of claims 2 to 29.

32. Steering hydraulic device for marine motors and kit connecting various marine motors for controlling the steering thereof in a synchronizing way, totally or in part, as disclosed, shown and for the above aims.